Earned Rookie Mini-Camp invitations from the New York Giants and New Oreleans Saints.
CAREER NOTE: Totaled 100 or more tackles in each of his last three seasons ... Closed his career with 377 tackles (198 solo) to hold the modern era (since 2008) record for career tackles, while he ranks second all-time ... Gathered 53.0 career tackles for loss to rank second all-time.
2018 (Sr.): AP All-American First Team ... D2CCA All-American First Team ... D2Football.com All-American First Team Defense ... D2CCA All-Super Region Four First Team (2x, 2018, 2017) ... Don Hansen All-Region Second Team Defense ... RMAC Defensive Player of the Year … All-RMAC First Team Defense (3x, 2018, 2017, 2016) ... All-NFFCC First Team Defense ... RMAC Academic Defensive Player of the Year … Academic All-RMAC First Team (3x, 2018, 2017, 2016) … Preseason RMAC Defense Player of the Year … Preseason All-RMAC … College Football America Preseason Starting Line-Up ... Led the team with 102 tackles (48 solo) ... Finished T-9th in the RMAC in tackles at the end of the regular season … Finished with 20.0 TFL (-41 yards) ... Led the RMAC at the end of the regular season in TFL and ranked 11th in NCAA DII … His four fumble recoveries ranks tied for 3rd in NCAA DII … Added four break-ups, three forced fumbles and a two sacks (-8 yards) ... Named RMAC Defensive Player of the Week Sept. 24 after 10 tackles, 3.5 TFL and a FR in the upset victory at then-No. 1 Texas A&M-Commerce.
2017 (Jr.): AFCA All-America First Team ... D2Football.com All-America Second Team ... D2CCA All-Region First Team ... All-RMAC First Team ... All-NFFCC First Team ... Cliff Harris Award Finalist ... Preseason RMAC Defensive Player of the Year ... Preseason All-RMAC ... Started all 12 games at inside linebacker and finished the season with 110 tackles with 71 solo ... Was 2nd in the RMAC in both tackles and solo tackles ... Ranks 22nd nationally in solo tackles ... The 71 solo tackles is a new modern era program record ... Led the RMAC with 14.0 tackles for loss (-50 yards) and added 4.5 sacks to tie for 5th ... Forced three fumbles (T-3rd in RMAC, T-58th nationally) with one recovery ... Compiled six games with double-digit tackle totals with a season high 14 at West Texas A&M (Sept. 9) ... The ThunderWolves defense finished the regular season 10th nationally in both total defense (273.5 yards per game) and scoring defense (14.3 ppg) and 11th in turnovers gained (27) ... Academic All-District and Academic All-RMAC First Team.
2016 (So.): Don Hansen All-Region Third Team ... All-RMAC First Team Defense ... NFFCC All-Colorado First Team Defense ... Started all 11 games at inside linebacker ... Totaled 103 tackles (40 solo) to lead the team and tie for second in the RMAC ... His 100-plus tackle season marks the fourth time since 2008 a member of the Pack has reached that plateau ... He compiled 10.5 tackles for loss (-19 yards) to rank tied for sixth in the conference ... Forced three fumbles to tie for the second most in the RMAC ... Added four break-ups and an interception (returned four yards) ... Named RMAC Defensive Player of the Week twice ... Academic All-RMAC First Team.
2015 (R-Fr.): Played in 14 and stared seven games as a redshirt-freshman … Earned a RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll spot … Led all Pack freshman and ranked second in the RMAC with 64 total tackles, fifth most on the team … Topped all Pack players with two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries … Recorded 8.5 tackles for a loss, driving opponents back 22 yards … Collected 40 solo tackles and 24 combined stops … Had a career-high 11 total tackles and intercepted his first collegiate pass in the Pack’s NCAA Regional win over UIndy (Nov. 21) … Recorded six solo tackles in each of his last three games … Broke up two passes and recovered a fumble in the Pack’s 33-7 win over New Mexico Highlands (Nov. 14) … Forced and recovered a fumble in his first collegiate game, a 41-14 win over Central Washington (Sept. 5) … Helped the Pack defense rank top 10 nationally in interceptions (24, T-3rd), scoring defense (15.8 ppg, 3rd) and rushing defense (94.6 ypg, 10th).
2014 (RS): Redshirted in 2014.
High School: Named conference''s defensive player of the year for the Conifer Lobos... Also earned all-state linebacker honors in 2013, a year that saw him make 134 tackles... Was a first team all-conference pick as both a sophomore and junior... Also an honorable mention all-state pick as a junior, when he made 152 tackles... Earned second team all-conference honors at quarterback position as a senior... Invited to the U.S. Army All-American Combine and to play for the USA in the U-19 World Championships in Quwait... Was a Tom Lemming''s Prep Report 4-star recruit.
Personal: Son of Patrick Payer and Michelle Morgan... Siblings are Courtney Johnson and Carson Payer... Enjoys hiking, snowboarding and jeeping.
